BOX SCORE

MADISON, N.J. – Trailing by seven early in the second half, No. 20 William Paterson (3-1) fought back for a 69-61 men's basketball victory at FDU-Florham (0-2) Nov. 26.

Down 30-27 at halftime, that deficit grew to 36-29 just 2:42 into the second period before senior guard Rick DeStefano (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) drained a three-pointer and sophomore guard Jaques Conceicao (Massama-Lisboa, Portugal/Francais Charle Lepierre) and senior guard/forward Lance Brown (Teaneck, N.J./Paterson Catholic) knocked down consecutive buckets, a quick 7-0 spurt that knotted the score at 36-36 with 16:16 on the clock.

The Devils once again pushed ahead, this time by five (43-38, 11:43), but junior guard Sandy Burgos (Fort Lee, N.J./Fort Lee) sparked an 8-0 run with his trey, eventually handing WP a 46-43 edge with 9:54 remaining.

After FDU-Florham sank a three for the seventh tie of the game (46-46, 8:03), William Paterson scored nine of the game's next 11 points (55-48, 4:46), and the Pioneers' lead never dipped below four for the remainder of the contest.

Burgos paced the Pioneers with 17 points, and freshman guard/forward Terik Bridgeman (Harlem, N.Y./Nia Prep) contributed a double-double with 16 tallies and a game-high 11 rebounds.  Conceicao had 11 points and five boards, and Brown finished with seven points, three assists and three steals.

Mike Williamson led FDU-Florham with 17 points, and Will Green had 10 tallies and 10 rebounds.

William Paterson will host Montclair State Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 8:00 p.m.

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